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Summary of Saturday’s “Iowa Freedom Summit”

News

January 26th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The “Iowa Freedom Summit” drew hundreds of grassroots activists to Des Moines this past weekend for a 10-hour event featuring 31 different speakers, about a dozen of whom presented themselves as possible 2016 presidential candidates. Congressman Steve King — the co-host of the event – kicked things off Saturday morning. “Do you believe that the next president of the United States is going to be speaking from this stage to you today?” King asked and the crowd applauded. The parade of potential contenders for the G-O-P’s next presidential nomination included governors like Scott Walker who touted what he called the “Wisconsin Way” as a prescription for the entire country. “Common sense conservative reforms can actually work,” Walker said, “and they can work in a blue state like Wisconsin.”

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas challenged Iowa Republicans to ask each candidate to prove their conservative credentials. “Look each candidate in the eye and say, ‘Don’t talk. Show me,'” Cruz said. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee called for a cease fire among conservatives. “We don’t need to spend the next two years beating each other up in the conservative tent,” Huckabee said. And New Jersey Governor Chris Christie suggested litmus tests could doom the party. “If you want a candidate who agrees with you 100 percent of the time, I’ll give you one suggestion: Go home and look in the mirror,” Christie said. “…If that’s the standard we hold each other to as a party, we will never win another national election — ever.”

Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum offered his assessment of why Republicans have lost the last two national elections. “We don’t win because too many people think we don’t care about them,” Santorum said. Businessman Donald Trump drew cheers from the crowd when he declared that Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush would be losers for the party in 2016. The event also introduced Iowans to potential candidates who aren’t well known here, like former Hewlett-Packard C-E-O Carly Fiorina who brought the house down with her critique of Hillary Clinton’s performance as secretary of state.

Protestors who support President Obama’s actions which shield young people who were brought here illegally as children from deportation disrupted former Texas Governor Rick Perry’s speech. The Republican crowd started applauding Perry to try to drown out the protesters. Two protesters were arrested. Steve Wilson of West Des Moines supported Huckabee in 2008, but wasn’t thrilled with his choices in 2012. He attended Saturday’s event to “get a handle” on who’s thinking about running in 2016.

“We’re all quite dismayed and upset at the way the country has gone and where it’s headed and that kind of scares us,” Wilson says. “So it’s time to stand up and take a stand and see if we can’t get the country back to the country we grew up in and we loved.” While none of the participants in Saturday’s event have formally declared themselves candidates for the presidency, they made it clear Iowa’s Caucuses are on their minds. The Iowa Caucuses are currently scheduled for February 1st, 2016.

(O. Kay Henderson/Radio Iowa)

Posted in News |

MARTHA LAUER, 76, of the Hill of Zion area (Svcs. 1/28/15)

Obituaries

January 25th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

MARTHA LAUER, 76, of the Hill of Zion area, died Sat., January 24th, at the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Celebration of Life Services for MARTHA LAUER will be held 10:30-a.m. Wednesday, January 28th, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Greenfield. Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield has the arrangements.

An open visitation will be held from 3-to 8-pm Tuesday, Jan. 27th at St. John’s Catholic Church in Greenfield, with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A Rosary will be held at the St. John’s Catholic Church on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.; Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Burial will be in the Hill of Zion Cemetery, rural Orient.

Memorials may be directed to the Matha Lauer memorial fund to be established by the family at a later date.

 MARTHA LAUER is survived by:

Her children – Ronald (Dee Ann), Kim (Burt) Maeder, Roger, and Carrie (Jon) Powell.

Her sister-in-laws, Marilyn Fils and Jean Ward; brother-in-laws, David (Marjorie) Lauer and Delmar (Alice) Brown.

9 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Posted in Obituaries |

Buss, No. 20 Northern Iowa edge Illinois State 54-53

Sports

January 25th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

NORMAL, Ill. (AP) — Nate Buss hit a 3-pointer from the corner with 5 seconds left and No. 20 Northern Iowa edged Illinois State 54-53 on Sunday. Northern Illinois (18-2, 8-1 Missouri Valley) overcame a 12-point deficit in the final 11 minutes. Seth Tuttle scored 21 for the Panthers and Jeremy Morgan made three steals and blocked a shot down the stretch.

Daishon Knight drove the lane at the end for Illinois State (12-8, 4-4), but his short shot hit the bottom of the rim as the horn sounded. Knight fell to the floor after the miss.

Posted in Sports |

Moody helps Iowa State upend No. 8 Texas 58-57

Sports

January 25th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Nikki Moody scored 14 points, including two free throws with 17. 5 seconds left, to help Iowa State upset No. 8 Texas 58-57 on Sunday. Texas guard Brooke McCarty then missed a jump shot with two seconds left. Seanna Johnson added 13 points for Iowa State (15-4, 5-2 in Big 12).

Kelsey Lang led Texas (14-4, 3-4) with 12 points, but she attempted only one shot in the second half while surrounded by defenders. Texas, which has lost four of its last five games, took a 54-52 lead with 2:15 remaining on a 3-point basket by freshman McCarty. Lang, swarmed by defenders inside, passed the ball out to McCarty.

After a missed jump shot by Moody, Texas forward Nekia Jones converted a three-point play with 55 seconds left. Bryanna Ferstrom made a layup for Iowa State that left the Cyclones trailing by a point with 33 seconds left.

Posted in Sports |

Baker, No. 14 Wichita State breezes past Drake 74-40

Sports

January 25th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) – Ron Baker scored 15 points and No. 14 Wichita State breezed past Drake 74-40 on Sunday for its 26th straight win in the Missouri Valley Conference. Tekele Cotton added 10 points for the Shockers (18-2, 8-0). No one played more than 28 minutes for Wichita State.

Reed Timmer topped Drake (4-16, 1-7) with eight points.

Posted in Sports |

John J. Harris Wrestling Tournament Final Results

Sports

January 25th, 2015 by Jim Field

Team Scores:

  1. Creston/Orient-Macksburg 237
  2. New Hampton 170.5
  3. Clarinda 166
  4. Atlantic 138
  5. Winterset 122.5
  6. Riverside 71
  7. Chariton 67
  8. Bedford/Lenox 66.5
  9. East Mills 66.5
  10. Tri-Center 66
  11. Mount Ayr 59.5
  12. Missouri Valley 53
  13. Southwest Iowa 52
  14. Red Oak 42
  15. Central Decatur 39
  16. Panorama 36
  17. Nodaway Valley 32
  18. Coon Rapids-Bayard 28
  19. Shenandoah 27
  20. Clarke 24
  21. Griswold 23
  22. Wayne 16
  23. Southwest Valley 4

106 Results
1st Place – Noah Fye of New Hampton
2nd Place – Tatem Bluml of Oakland Riverside
3rd Place – Gabe Ruepke of Chariton
4th Place – Kole Hansen of Atlantic
5th Place – Wyatt Dale of Central Decatur
6th Place – Logan Allen of Winterset
1st Place Match
Noah Fye (New Hampton) 34-1, Fr. over Tatem Bluml (Oakland Riverside) 41-4, So. (TF-1.5 2:17 (18-2)).
3rd Place Match
Gabe Ruepke (Chariton) 14-3, Fr. over Kole Hansen (Atlantic) 25-13, Fr. (Dec 9-2).
5th Place Match
Wyatt Dale (Central Decatur) 24-16, Fr. over Logan Allen (Winterset) 18-15, Jr. (For.).

113 Results
1st Place – Connor Cleveland of New Hampton
2nd Place – Jared Hensley of Bedford/Lenox
3rd Place – Carter Cox of Atlantic
4th Place – Dylin Harberts of Chariton
5th Place – Britton Gibson of Winterset
6th Place – Garrett Simmons of Panorama
1st Place Match
Connor Cleveland (New Hampton) 36-2, Jr. over Jared Hensley (Bedford/Lenox) 32-2, So. (MD 10-2).
3rd Place Match
Carter Cox (Atlantic) 32-7, So. over Dylin Harberts (Chariton) 25-5, Fr. (Fall 5:32).
5th Place Match
Britton Gibson (Winterset) 19-9, Sr. over Garrett Simmons (Panorama) 22-5, So. (DQ).

120 Results
1st Place – Keaton Geerts of New Hampton
2nd Place – Hadley Ogg of Griswold
3rd Place – Ben Freese of Nodaway Valley
4th Place – Craig Rice of Southwest Iowa
5th Place – Marcus Daughton of Mt Ayr
6th Place – Trevor Marlin of Creston- Orient Macksburg
1st Place Match
Keaton Geerts (New Hampton) 33-5, So. over Hadley Ogg (Griswold) 31-5, Sr. (Fall 3:07).
3rd Place Match
Ben Freese (Nodaway Valley) 27-6, Jr. over Craig Rice (Southwest Iowa) 17-4, Sr. (Fall 4:00).
5th Place Match
Marcus Daughton (Mt Ayr) 19-17, Fr. over Trevor Marlin (Creston- Orient Macksburg) 24-20, So. (MD 21-8).

126 Results
1st Place – Christian Polley of Tri-Center Neola
2nd Place – Nick Rounds of Missouri Valley
3rd Place – Austin Gutknecht of Clarinda
4th Place – Caleb Orme of Red Oak
5th Place – Mitchel Swank of Creston- Orient Macksburg
6th Place – Keegan Tenge of New Hampton
1st Place Match
Christian Polley (Tri-Center Neola) 30-2, Sr. over Nick Rounds (Missouri Valley) 34-8, Jr. (Dec 7-6).
3rd Place Match
Austin Gutknecht (Clarinda) 16-4, Fr. over Caleb Orme (Red Oak) 32-9, Sr. (Dec 10-9).
5th Place Match
Mitchel Swank (Creston- Orient Macksburg) 31-12, Fr. over Keegan Tenge (New Hampton) 29-11, So. (Fall 1:20).

132 Results
1st Place – Dusten Reed of Bedford/Lenox
2nd Place – Tucker Bluml of Oakland Riverside
3rd Place – Wyatt Thompson of Creston- Orient Macksburg
4th Place – Jacob Jenkins of Winterset
5th Place – Alec Moorman of East Mills
6th Place – Patrick McAlister of Coon Rapids Bayard
1st Place Match
Dusten Reed (Bedford/Lenox) 36-0, Sr. over Tucker Bluml (Oakland Riverside) 35-4, Sr. (Fall 0:55).
3rd Place Match
Wyatt Thompson (Creston- Orient Macksburg) 33-10, Jr. over Jacob Jenkins (Winterset) 23-16, Sr. (Fall 3:50).
5th Place Match
Alec Moorman (East Mills) 12-4, Jr. over Patrick McAlister (Coon Rapids Bayard) 21-11, Jr. (Fall 2:31).

138 Results
1st Place – Spencer Wray of Creston- Orient Macksburg
2nd Place – Ryan Gorman of New Hampton
3rd Place – Jacob Vogel of Oakland Riverside
4th Place – Austin Williamson of Atlantic
5th Place – Dakota Moss of Southwest Iowa
6th Place – Luke Stortenbecker of East Mills
1st Place Match
Spencer Wray (Creston- Orient Macksburg) 19-1, Sr. over Ryan Gorman (New Hampton) 29-9, So. (Dec 13-10).
3rd Place Match
Jacob Vogel (Oakland Riverside) 28-3, . over Austin Williamson (Atlantic) 32-14, Sr. (Fall 3:17).
5th Place Match
Dakota Moss (Southwest Iowa) 35-4, Sr. over Luke Stortenbecker (East Mills) 22-7, So. (Dec 9-2).

145 Results
1st Place – Joey Huntington of Creston- Orient Macksburg
2nd Place – Reid Nichols of Atlantic
3rd Place – Tanner Mertz of Red Oak
4th Place – Zach Evans of Coon Rapids Bayard
5th Place – Justin Smith of Winterset
6th Place – Grant Staats of Mt Ayr
1st Place Match
Joey Huntington (Creston- Orient Macksburg) 34-6, Jr. over Reid Nichols (Atlantic) 34-6, Sr. (Dec 5-2).
3rd Place Match
Tanner Mertz (Red Oak) 30-5, Sr. over Zach Evans (Coon Rapids Bayard) 23-6, Jr. (MD 10-2).
5th Place Match
Justin Smith (Winterset) 18-19, So. over Grant Staats (Mt Ayr) 27-8, Sr. (Fall 3:43).

152 Results
1st Place – Josh Hopkins of East Mills
2nd Place – Luke Strong of Clarinda
3rd Place – Devin Harberts of Chariton
4th Place – Nathan Haynes of Missouri Valley
5th Place – Blayde Baker of Wayne
6th Place – Scott Ruffcorn of Tri-Center Neola
1st Place Match
Josh Hopkins (East Mills) 37-0, Jr. over Luke Strong (Clarinda) 29-4, Sr. (Dec 8-3).
3rd Place Match
Devin Harberts (Chariton) 24-10, Sr. over Nathan Haynes (Missouri Valley) 32-13, Fr. (MD 12-3).
5th Place Match
Blayde Baker (Wayne) 23-9, Jr. over Scott Ruffcorn (Tri-Center Neola) 28-11, Sr. (MD 21-9).

160 Results
1st Place – Chase Shiltz of Creston- Orient Macksburg
2nd Place – Colton Ranney of Central Decatur
3rd Place – Zac Stork of Atlantic
4th Place – Brandon Ryerson of Winterset
5th Place – Cole Denner of New Hampton
6th Place – Cain Johanns of Clarinda
1st Place Match
Chase Shiltz (Creston- Orient Macksburg) 20-0, So. over Colton Ranney (Central Decatur) 34-4, Sr. (MD 13-4).
3rd Place Match
Zac Stork (Atlantic) 27-13, So. over Brandon Ryerson (Winterset) 14-13, Sr. (Fall 3:11).
5th Place Match
Cole Denner (New Hampton) 32-6, Jr. over Cain Johanns (Clarinda) 30-9, Sr. (Dec 5-4).

170 Results
1st Place – J.J. Clark of Clarinda
2nd Place – Tayler Pettit of Creston- Orient Macksburg
3rd Place – Caleb Grose of Winterset
4th Place – Drake Roller of Atlantic
5th Place – Alex Lukes of New Hampton
6th Place – Zach Marxen of Bedford/Lenox
1st Place Match
J.J. Clark (Clarinda) 36-1, Jr. over Tayler Pettit (Creston- Orient Macksburg) 36-6, Sr. (Fall 0:53).
3rd Place Match
Caleb Grose (Winterset) 18-13, Jr. over Drake Roller (Atlantic) 20-20, So. (MD 17-9).
5th Place Match
Alex Lukes (New Hampton) 25-12, Jr. over Zach Marxen (Bedford/Lenox) 13-17, Jr. (Fall 1:35).

182 Results
1st Place – Trey Stickler of Clarinda
2nd Place – Nathan Bair of Clarke
3rd Place – Jackson Mikkelson of Creston- Orient Macksburg
4th Place – Wyatt Miller of Winterset
5th Place – Dillon Manhart of Tri-Center Neola
6th Place – Tim Good of Chariton
1st Place Match
Trey Stickler (Clarinda) 26-6, Sr. over Nathan Bair (Clarke) 26-9, So. (MD 13-3).
3rd Place Match
Jackson Mikkelson (Creston- Orient Macksburg) 34-11, So. over Wyatt Miller (Winterset) 14-10, So. (Dec 1-0).
5th Place Match
Dillon Manhart (Tri-Center Neola) 26-11, Jr. over Tim Good (Chariton) 20-14, Jr. (Fall 3:00).

195 Results
1st Place – Seth Maitlen of Creston- Orient Macksburg
2nd Place – Christian Lauritsen of Clarinda
3rd Place – Wilson Solorzano of Panorama
4th Place – Nick Tank of Winterset
5th Place – Keagan Hosfelt of Atlantic
6th Place – Haydn Meier of Southwest Iowa
1st Place Match
Seth Maitlen (Creston- Orient Macksburg) 28-6, Jr. over Christian Lauritsen (Clarinda) 27-2, Sr. (SV-1 3-1).
3rd Place Match
Wilson Solorzano (Panorama) 26-6, Sr. over Nick Tank (Winterset) 19-8, Sr. (Dec 6-2).
5th Place Match
Keagan Hosfelt (Atlantic) 31-11, Jr. over Haydn Meier (Southwest Iowa) 29-8, Sr. (Fall 5:15).

220 Results
1st Place – Kadon Hulett of Creston- Orient Macksburg
2nd Place – Brook Stephens of Clarinda
3rd Place – Marcus Boldy of Panorama
4th Place – Noah Hopp of New Hampton
5th Place – Bret Blackburn of Southwest Iowa
6th Place – Tom Reif of Missouri Valley
1st Place Match
Kadon Hulett (Creston- Orient Macksburg) 34-9, So. over Brook Stephens (Clarinda) 24-11, Sr. (Fall 3:18).
3rd Place Match
Marcus Boldy (Panorama) 30-7, Sr. over Noah Hopp (New Hampton) 27-11, So. (Fall 1:03).
5th Place Match
Bret Blackburn (Southwest Iowa) 27-4, Sr. over Tom Reif (Missouri Valley) 32-13, Fr. (Fall 5:33).

285 Results
1st Place – Joe Ricker of Mt Ayr
2nd Place – Skyler Svoboda of Atlantic
3rd Place – Jake Gutschenritter of Creston- Orient Macksburg
4th Place – Jared DeVoe of Clarinda
5th Place – Anthony Ossman of East Mills
6th Place – CJ Baker of Winterset
1st Place Match
Joe Ricker (Mt Ayr) 34-0, Sr. over Skyler Svoboda (Atlantic) 16-6, Sr. (Fall 1:53).
3rd Place Match
Jake Gutschenritter (Creston- Orient Macksburg) 34-10, Sr. over Jared DeVoe (Clarinda) 31-7, Sr. (Fall 3:24).
5th Place Match
Anthony Ossman (East Mills) 21-7, Jr. over CJ Baker (Winterset) 19-16, Jr. (Dec 10-4).

Posted in Sports |

Rollover accident south of Atlantic Sunday morning

News

January 25th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

No injuries were reported following a rollover accident early this (Sunday) morning, south of Atlantic. According to dispatch reports, the accident happened at around 12:15-a.m., near 610th Street and Lansing Road. Three occupants were out of the vehicle prior to the arrival of law enforcement and rescue.

The driver of the vehicle reportedly had a suspended license. No other details are currently available.

Posted in News |

PPEL elections coming soon to East Mills & Essex Districts

News

January 25th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Voters in the Essex and East Mills community school districts will be asked to expand physical plant and equipment levies to pay for infrastructure projects. The proposals will be decided on by the voters, Feb. 3rd. The Daily Non Pareil says it’s  the second attempt for East Mills, which would raise the board-approved levy of 33 cents per $1,000 taxable valuation to a total of $1.34 to be collected through property taxes and income tax surcharges.

The expanded levy would generate nearly $4 million in additional funding for infrastructure projects. The shared superintendent between East Mills and Essex, said East Mills would use the money for reroofing its high school building and completing a geothermal heating system at its elementary building.

The PPEL dollars in Essex would pay for a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, estimated to cost $725,000, as well as replacing buses and updating the district’s technology. Essex would also collect the maximum of $1.34 per $1,000 of taxable valuation. For a residential property worth $100,000, that translates to an increase of up to $66.40 per year. For a commercial property, it would be $127.30, based on 2013 property tax rollbacks.

In both cases, the PPEL funds would be limited to infrastructure spending. For the Essex election, polls will be open noon to 8 p.m. at Essex City Hall, 412 Iowa Ave. Polls will also be open from noon to 8 p.m. for the East Mills special election. Residents of Emerson proper will vote at the Emerson Community Building, while Malvern residents vote at the Malvern Public Library, 502 Main St., and Hastings residents at the Indian Creek Museum, 59256 380th St.

Emerson voters will have a special city election to fill a council vacancy. East Mills voters will also choose between Bruce Breeding and Brenda Koger to fill an open spot on the school board.

Posted in News |

School Budget Review Committee grants reprieves for some SW IA Districts

News

January 25th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Tri-Center joined Hamburg and Farragut in receiving good news from the School Budget Review Committee earlier this week. The Daily NonPareil reports the Tri-Center Community School District – which serves Neola, Minden, Persia, Beebeetown — approached the state agency Wednesday afternoon to request a “modified supplemental amount,” the legal authority to spend dollars already spent to wipe the slate clean as the district tackles overspending.

The SBRC approved adding $480,244 in additional spending authority, as well as accepting Tri-Center’s corrective action plan, which projects a stable certified enrollment for the school district of 647 students. In exchange, the SBRC ordered Tri-Center to not spend more than $6.23 million from its general fund for fiscal year 2015 and to not spend any miscellaneous income until it’s received.

Tri-Center is required to submit monthly reports to its board showing the financial position of the district in relation to its budget control plan and spending authority, which will also be made available to state officials. Tri-Center Superintendent Tony Weers said significant reductions will still need to be made to spending. An estimated $600,000 in cuts are expected to be needed to reach the spending limits imposed by the state.

After hearing cases from Hamburg and Farragut, the SBRC approved budget authority supplement of $148,951 for Hamburg and $803,010 for Farragut as part of their corrective action plans. General budget spending for Hamburg for fiscal year 2015 will be limited to $2.5 million, while such spending for Farragut is capped at $2 million. Those figures don’t include allowable special education expenditures.

Similar to Tri-Center and other districts, the two Fremont County districts also will submit monthly reports to their boards and state officials. The districts must submit a plan to the SBRC by late next month to outline how to configure buildings to maximize potential cost savings with the least amount of facility upgrades.

In all three cases, the SBRC granted back budget authority, the legal right to spend money the districts have. None of the districts are receiving additional funding from the state, and none of the districts are insolvent. State law is designed to guarantee school districts across the state spend about the same amount of money per student. Tri-Center, Hamburg and Farragut all spent more than authorized for their general funds, which pays teacher salaries and other operational expenses.

While Tri-Center has sufficient enrollment to trim expenses to stay under the spending cap, the situation is different for Hamburg and Farragut. Both are small districts under the enrollment threshold widely considered sustainable.

Posted in News |

ROSEMARY SOE, 78, of Elk Horn (Svcs. 1/26/15)

Obituaries

January 25th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

ROSEMARY SOE, 78, of Elk Horn, died Fri., Jan. 23rd, at the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn. Funeral services for ROSEMARY SOE will be held 10:30-a.m. Mon., Jan. 26th, at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Visitation at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church will be held from 9-until 10:30-a.m. on Monday (1/26).

Burial will be in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery.

ROSEMARY SOE is survived by:

Her husband – Darrell Soe, of Elk Horn.

Her sons – Jeff (Kim) Soe, of Red Oak, and Troy (Marcia) Soe, of Omaha.

Her daughter – Joni (Kevin)n Butts, of Seattle, Wa.

and 5 grandchildren.

Posted in Obituaries |